After China's arduous and extraordinary fight against the virus over the past three years, many foreigners working or studying in China have offered their own insights into the country's evolving strategies to combat the novel coronavirus.

Mauro De Felip, Ferrero's general manager for China, has spent much of the past three years in China, particularly in Shanghai, according to Xinhua. "I think China has been particularly successful in controlling the epidemic since the beginning of 2020 without damaging people's health, which is of course the top priority of the government," Ma said.

Unprecedented achievement

Maru remembers the first year of the outbreak in particular. "I think they made the right move in that moment. And so it turned out, in the end, to contain the virus and protect the people." Faced with the outbreak in early 2020, China made swift, decisive and tremendous efforts to contain the virus and won a decisive victory in the battle to defend Hubei province and its provincial capital Wuhan in about three months. Data showed that China had the lowest incidence and death toll of COVID-19 among all major countries in the world during the period.

Yulia Temelidi, a Russian student at Tsinghua University, was also impressed by China's philosophy and practice of putting people first and life first in the fight against the epidemic. "Whether you are a foreigner or a Chinese citizen, you are put first as a human being," said Mr. Temeridi, a junior majoring in economics.

Maria Sofia Molina Bulla, an Argentine who teaches Spanish at Tongling University in Anhui province, said: "I think the overall anti-epidemic policy has been consistent and well implemented. I always felt safe and the vaccine was provided to all of us in a timely manner.".

Joseph Gregory Mahoney, program leader of the International Graduate Program in Political Science (IGPP) at East China Normal University, returned to China from the US in December 2021. He hailed what he saw in China as an "unprecedented public health achievement." "In fact, China has innovated control methods, improved them and proved their effectiveness by saving millions of lives. They have been successful and continue to be successful. The science has improved, the controls have improved, "Mahoney said.

Ramon Sariego Villar, general manager of Greater China and Northeast Asia for Electrolux, a world-renowned home appliance brand, has been in Shanghai since 2019. In his view, China has been controlling the epidemic situation for the past few years. "In 2020 and 2021, we have had excellent results. We have record sales and even excellent profitability. This year, we're still on track. I would say very good results, "said Sariego Villar.

Mahoney said some international critics of China's coronavirus policies underestimated the global public health value of the controls, which, in addition to protecting about 20 percent of the world's population living in China, also contained countless new mutations and disruptions that further endangered global supply chains.

Be optimistic about the new stage

In Molina Bulla's view, the past three years have bought China plenty of time to deal with the virus. "The health sector is in much better shape, both in theory and in practice, and the virus is not as deadly as before," she said. "And, it has enough time to make sure people are vaccinated."

Mahoney also saw China's efforts in the past few months to reduce the burden of epidemic control and improve efficiency. "What we're seeing is an orderly, gradual transition that explains China's unique demographic challenges. We can pursue a different path, and I think that's what we're trying to do in China right now, to cross the river by feeling the stones, "he said, adding that this includes new policies being put in place to ensure livelihoods while fighting the return of the virus.

However, the professor points out that some countries view China in an abnormal light: they do not recognize China's success because they ideologically politicize everything in China. Ma Rucheng takes a similar view. He said China's new measures to optimize its response to the outbreak would make the country better adapted to the new variant of the virus. "I really think this will also gradually move China into a new phase and a new normal in virus management."

Foreigners interviewed by Xinhua are optimistic about China's return to normal life and work, believing it will have a positive impact on the overall economy. "We need to gradually rebuild consumer confidence. When consumer confidence returns, so will consumer demand, "said Sariego Villar. He believes the fact that his company was able to move to a new office in Shanghai's Hongkou district with the support of the local government shows the local government's interest in attracting foreign investment and boosting business. "We have been able to prevent the outbreak while continuing to grow the economy very well."

Molina Bulla said China's policies and experience in fighting COVID-19 will make the country well protected against any other viruses that may emerge in the future. "Instead of panicking, people now know what to do and how to take care of themselves, and the government has shown it can take care of people no matter what." 'she said.